Special sales figures for pharmaceutical firm

Jan 29 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

A SUCCESSFUL first year under new ownership has seen sales at a pharmaceutical firm rise by over a quarter to £16m with double-digit revenue growth expected in each of the next five years.

The Specials Laboratory of Prudhoe was bought by Irish pharmaceutical group United Drug for over £20m in November 2008 from founders Fiona Cruickshank and Brian Dougherty.

General manager Sharon Griffiths was appointed managing director by the new owners and she has subsequently led the Northumberland company to a successful first year as part of the Dublin-based Plc.

Sales for the year to the end of September 2009 rose to £16m from the previous year’s £12.3m and these had previously risen from £11m in 2007.

Ms Griffiths, who started working at the company as a credit controller seven years ago, said: “It’s fantastic growth. It’s nice when the business does well as it gives the staff security.

“The business is pretty robust. We are predicting growth for this year of 13% which will take us £18.3m and we are looking at double-digit percentage increases over the coming years.”

Specials, which makes unlicensed medicines for the retail pharmaceutical and hospital markets, employs 135 staff and additional jobs will be created this year, said Ms Griffiths.